-- Melvin McCree spent much of his life in public office, but longtime friends said Wednesday that he was far more interested in making the area a better place to live than getting attention for himself. McCree, 55, most recently county register of deeds, died Wednesday after an extended illness that had forced him to leave office earlier this year. "In terms of personality, Melvin was probably more suited to being a person who orchestrated the political levers of power behind the scenes, but he was magnificently effective," said County Commission Chairman Woodrow Stanley, who grew up living on the same city street as McCree and served with his friend on the Flint City Council.

Flint Journal extras

Melvin McCree: 1953-2008

•

Born

March 22, 1953, he graduated from Flint Northern High School and Mott Community College. •

Elected

to the Flint City Council in 1981, he later became council paresident. •

He was appointed

Genesee County register of deeds in 1990 and served through the first half of 2008. •

He was a member

of the Flint branch of the NAACP, Urban League of Flint and several other organizations.

Source: Flint Journal files

"He was not a person who wanted any kind of recognition, (but he was a) giant pillar in the community -- a major political anchor," Stanley said of the man he trusted to write his announcement when Stanley first ran for mayor of Flint. McCree later served on Stanley's transition team when he won the office in 1991. An intensely private man, McCree never disclosed the nature of his illness but acknowledged several months ago that he would be forced to retire because of his health problems, including his difficulty breathing. He became embroiled in a public struggle over who should control his affairs earlier this year, and a conservator and guardian were temporarily appointed to assist him. On Nov. 4, voters elected county Commissioner Rose Bogardus to succeed McCree. "He was always a quiet man," said Frances Gilcreast, president of the Flint branch of the NAACP. "That's the way he conducted himself, but he got things done. "He just wasn't one who went around to ask for accolades," Gilcreast said. "He was very low-key, but if you asked him something, you would be surprised at the length and breadth of his knowledge." A former Flint City Council president, McCree became register of deeds in 1990 after his predecessor, Jeffrey A. Brohn, was convicted of failing to safeguard public funds. With strong support from a group of influential black clergy and area politicians, McCree was appointed to the job from a field of 60 applicants. His father, the late Floyd J. McCree, was Flint's first black mayor, and until his retirement earlier this year, Melvin McCree remained the only elected countywide black official. "Melvin learned politics from his father," said the Rev. Woody Etherly, a cousin by marriage. "He always tried to provide a helping hand to anyone who needed it. "He was a people person, a servant in the true sense of the word," Etherly said. "He did not put himself first. He put the people first." Stanley said he and others organized a tribute dinner that was to be held Nov. 20. "He was not a person who wanted any kind of recognition," Stanley said. "He resisted the notion of this tribute but (finally) resigned himself to the fact that it was going to happen."